Auckland FC are bracing for the visit of their counterparts to the south, as the Kiwi rivalry with Wellington Phoenix comes to Go Media Stadium for the first time.
The fledgling A-League club will open up Mt Smart's north bank on Saturday, potentially eyeing a regular-season record crowd for the second meeting between the two clubs, both flying high on the competition table.
After six rounds, the Black Knights sit atop the standings, unbeaten with five clean sheets and a game in hand, while the Phoenix lurk five points back in fourth.
Two months ago, at an awkward joint pre-season media opportunity, players from both clubs seemed at pains to downplay the looming conflict, almost not knowing what to expect.
Until their first meeting last month, the friction had been largely off the field, with Auckland pickpocketing star goalkeeper Alex Paulsen from the Phoenix (via AFC Bournemouth) and the Wellingtonians buzzing the Knights' first home game from the air.
Now the newcomers have drawn first blood in that rivalry — a late 2-0 win in the capital — the occasion has become more tangible.
"Derbies are special," insists coach Steve Corica. "We've already had one and the second one will be even more fierce, I think, than the first one.
"We beat them on their home turf and they'll want to do the same to us. That's why we have to work harder than the past, because we know they're coming for us and we need to be ready.
The Kiwi A-League teams will meet for the second time at Go Media Stadium. (Source: 1News)
"We want to put on another good performance in front of our home fans and continue what the boys are doing at the moment."
That previous November 2 fixture set the bar for record crowds on this side of the ditch at 26,252, another obvious target for the Aucklanders.
"Domey and I speak regularly," admitted Auckland chief executive Nick Becker of his relationship with Phoenix counterpart David Dome. "There's a healthy rivalry on the pitch and there's a healthy rivalry off the pitch as well.
"They've got a section of the stadium that they've sold out — they'll have good representation there. Wellington were the only A-League team before us, so they've built up a fanbase in Auckland and we expect to see a lot of Wellington fans there, so bring it on."
Now the players have also bought into the banter.
"Of course, when there are two teams in a whole country, it's going to be full on," predicts defender Francis de Vries. "We know what to expect, we're sticking to our processes and preparing for them as well as we can, and we'll just let you enjoy the spectacle on the weekend.
"We haven't been exposed to it in New Zealand. If you look overseas, it's still very tame here and that's good.
"I love the atmosphere at Go Media, where it's family friendly, as well as passionate... keeping the balance right, so kids can come along and be inspired.
"There's plenty of sides to the rivalry. We're just going to stick to our processes and do what we can do, and let the noise around us build up."
Belgian midfielder Louis Verstraete has felt the intensity of local rivalry before, playing for Gent against Brugge in front of almost 30,000 screaming fans.
"As a football player, you want to play in front of big crowds," he said. "We're going to give our all, we'll go high energy and make it a beautiful day.
"It's always a bit different with a derby game compared to a normal game, because there is tension from the fans and the players. In a derby game, you have to go even more than a regular game, because you play also for the fans and you have to win for them.
"Some are bigger than others, but it's always a special feeling, especially in New Zealand, where there are only two teams, so it's one or the other."
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